posture

Zoology A position of an animal's body or body parts, especially for the purpose of communication: a dog's submissive posture.

Relative placement or arrangement: the posture of the buildings on the land.

A condition or state under certain circumstances: the nation's posture in the world economy.

a. An attitude or way of behaving, especially when adopted to have an effect on others: assumed a posture of angry defiance.

b. An approach or policy with regard to something: adjusting the government's defense posture.

verb

pos·tured, pos·tur·ing, pos·tures

verb

, intransitive

To assume a certain, often exaggerated body position; pose.

To assume a certain attitude or behave in a certain way, especially to make an impression or gain an advantage: “They postured as Southern Loyalists to win the support of ex-Confederates”(James M. Smallwood).

Zoology To assume a certain position of the body or of body parts, often as part of a display.

verb

, transitive

To put into a specific posture; pose: The photographer postured the model.

To place in a certain arrangement or condition: an army that was postured for defense.

Origin of posture

French, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra, position, from positus, past participle of pōnere, to place; see apo- in Indo-European roots.

Sentence Examples

It lives in the high grass, running away in a stooping posture to avoid discovery on being approached, and taking flight only at the utmost need.

Of the kneeling posture of the images of Damia and Auxesia, of the use of native ware instead of Athenian in their worship, and of the change in women's dress at Athens from the Dorian to the Ionian style.

I was struck with the singular posture he maintained.

At any time it is a strange sight to the tyro to see with what wondrous habitude of unconscious skill the whaleman will maintain an erect posture in his boat, even when pitched about by the most riotously perverse and cross-running seas.